Outdoor Greenhouse Aquaponics System is up and running for 2026 - DuckWeed has been applied.

[Baldwin Family Farms]

DuckWeed has been applied to the aquaponics tank - leaks in the tower system have being addressed - while tank is being topped off... and chlorine allowed to evaporate before fish are added

The duckeeed will feed the fish - the fish will feed the plants!

The duckweed will filter the water!

Uptake: Duckweed acts as a natural biological filter, feeding on nitrogen (like ammonia, nitrates, and nitrites) and phosphorus from the water to fuel its rapid growth.

The Catch: Duckweed only stores the nitrogen. If the plants are left to die and rot in the water, the nitrogen will simply be released back into the aquatic system.

The Solution: To permanently remove the nitrogen, you must physically scoop and harvest the duckweed from the water. The harvested plant matter is highly nutritious and can be repurposed as a slow-release organic fertilizer for living soil, compost, vermicompost, or fed to your chickens/ducks/turkeys. (but not limited to)

The fish feed off the duckweed and den poop into the tank, feeding the plants - if fish are added to the tank - this works great.

The DuckWeed will double every 24hrs or so...

Now to acquire Azolla...

Add oxygen to the tank with an air pump - and den watch this tank thrive on the biological activity taking place.

Aquaponic romaine lettuce for example is 5x more nutrient dense than anything you'll find at the store or even when grown in the garden. The growth rate is also increased dramatically - you don't harvest the whole lettuce plant from the towers - you give the lettuce a haircut and it continues to grow all season long. This is fresh nutrient dense lettuce - it hasn't been shipped 1000s of miles losing its nutrient density. This tank is not just for lettuce, and can grow lots of differant plants (like some of the best tasting nutrient dense chemical free strawberries you've ever tasted) in a system like this, using a fraction of the water that is required outdoors. The electricity required is minimal to drive a small water and air pump. If you get crafty you can get away with just using an air pump to also pump the water into the tower system I've constructed.

A solar panel and a battery would easily power this system. This is grid-tied.

 

[Baldwin Family Farms]

DuckWeed has been applied to the aquaponics tank - leaks in the tower system have being addressed - while tank is being topped off... and chlorine allowed to evaporate before fish are added

The duckeeed will feed the fish - the fish will feed the plants!

The duckweed will filter the water!

Uptake: Duckweed acts as a natural biological filter, feeding on nitrogen (like ammonia, nitrates, and nitrites) and phosphorus from the water to fuel its rapid growth.

The Catch: Duckweed only stores the nitrogen. If the plants are left to die and rot in the water, the nitrogen will simply be released back into the aquatic system.

The Solution: To permanently remove the nitrogen, you must physically scoop and harvest the duckweed from the water. The harvested plant matter is highly nutritious and can be repurposed as a slow-release organic fertilizer for living soil, compost, vermicompost, or fed to your chickens/ducks/turkeys. (but not limited to)

The fish feed off the duckweed and den poop into the tank, feeding the plants - if fish are added to the tank - this works great.

The DuckWeed will double every 24hrs or so...

Now to acquire Azolla...

Add oxygen to the tank with an air pump - and den watch this tank thrive on the biological activity taking place.

Aquaponic romaine lettuce for example is 5x more nutrient dense than anything you'll find at the store or even when grown in the garden. The growth rate is also increased dramatically - you don't harvest the whole lettuce plant from the towers - you give the lettuce a haircut and it continues to grow all season long. This is fresh nutrient dense lettuce - it hasn't been shipped 1000s of miles losing its nutrient density. This tank is not just for lettuce, and can grow lots of differant plants (like some of the best tasting nutrient dense chemical free strawberries you've ever tasted) in a system like this, using a fraction of the water that is required outdoors. The electricity required is minimal to drive a small water and air pump. If you get crafty you can get away with just using an air pump to also pump the water into the tower system I've constructed.

A solar panel and a battery would easily power this system. This is grid-tied.

View attachment 154

Water Wisteria (Hygrophila difformis) is a highly popular, fast-growing freshwater aquarium plant. It provides vital ecological and aesthetic benefits, serving as a natural filter that absorbs nitrates, oxygenating the water column, and acting as dense cover for fish and fry.

Top Benefits for Your Aquarium
Natural Water Filtration: Wisteria grows rapidly, absorbing excess nutrients like nitrates and phosphates from the water. This naturally improves water quality and prevents toxic spikes.

Algae Control: By consuming a large number of nutrients, this plant directly competes with unwanted algae for food. Its fast growth helps keep the water clean and limits algae outbreaks.

Oxygenation & CO2 Reduction: Through photosynthesis, it absorbs carbon dioxide and releases oxygen, creating a healthier, more breathable environment for your fish.

Habitat Enrichment: The dense, lacy foliage offers excellent hiding spots and security for small fish, shrimp, and fry, helping to reduce their stress. It also provides surface area for beneficial microorganisms.

Visual Tank Indicator: Wisteria is highly sensitive to its environment. Its leaves will change shape based on lighting, and wilting or discoloration can serve as an early warning sign of iron deficiencies or nutrient imbalances.

Highly Versatile: It can be anchored in the substrate to create a bushy background, floated at the top to provide shade, or even used as a horizontal carpeting plant.

Care Requirements
Lighting: Moderate to high lighting allows for the best, fastest growth.
Placement: It can be used as a background stem plant or left to float.
Maintenance: Because it is a vigorous grower, it requires regular trimming to prevent it from overtaking the tank and blocking light from lower plants.

Aquaponics Tank gets a new friend

Duckweed and Water Wisteria (Hygrophila difformis) make excellent aquarium companion plants. Duckweed provides deep shade, while wisteria acts as a fast-growing background plant that thrives in the soft, dappled light created by the floating cover.

 

[Baldwin Family Farms]

Aquaponics (uses fish) - not chemical driven Hydroponics.

Aquaponics utilizes a thriving ecosystem to feed and water your plants. This system can still function in those extreme cold winter months (and in extreme heat if designed properly) providing abundant (depending on size of the system) nutrient dense produce year round - the rabbits don't eat it, and you don't break your back fighting weeds. Romaine Lettuce only requires 3-6 hours of sun a day (and is summer heat tollerant) - even during winter you get more sun than that in Kansas.

Got a Greenhouse - put it to real work...

The water tank is a heat sink - thermal storage - that helps regulate temps and add the necessary humidity needed for the greenhouse.

Beat that summer heat - add a 70-80% shade cloth to the roof of the greenhouse. This will dramatically lower greenhouse temps - keep the air flowing through the greenhouse - it needs adequate air in and an excess of hot air ...going out

Don't have a Greenhouse - convert your indoor Fishtank into food production with some simple mods. You could be growing nutrient dense garlic and herbs indoors, in your own kitchen.